Florida man sentenced for threatening federal judge over ruling in ‘Don’t Say Gay’ challenge

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A Florida man was sentenced Wednesday for threatening a federal judge over a ruling regarding a challenge to Florida’s so-called “Don’t Say Gay” law.

Stephen Jay Thorn, 66, of Pensacola, was sentenced to five years in federal prison, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida.

“Threatening harm against public officials, or their families, is an intolerable offense,” U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg said in a statement. “My office takes such threats seriously and is committed to investigating and federally prosecuting anyone who threatens this sort of violence.”

Thorn made several phone calls in 2022 to the judge’s office and left profanity-laced tirades on voicemail recordings after he read a news report about a ruling he disagreed with, according to court documents.

Thorn, who in one of the messages said he was a retired teacher, called the judge a “rotten piece of ****” and accused the judge of playing to the bases of Gov. Ron DeSantis and former President Donald Trump, because the judge was appointed by Trump.

“You have no ******* idea what LGBTQ kids go through,” Thorn said in a message that was transcribed in court documents. “I’m a retired teacher. I’ve taught in Florida. I’ve taught in California. I have seen the sheer hell those kids are put through and you have the gall to say that’s part of middle school or high school is to be picked on.”

In another message, Thorn threatened the judge’s family members and said they should have to suffer. A third message left by Thorn indicated that he knew the judge’s personal information, including an address, according to the documents.

“This is for that stupid redneck, ****, judge, [redacted],” Thorn said in one message. “You are a cruel person. You think that it’s okay for LGBTQ kids to be bullied, which is what that law is allowing, that’s what it’s saying that they’re second-class citizens. Listen dumb***, you’re easy to track you down.”

Thorn added, “I’m not a vindictive person and I wouldn’t hurt anyone just like you’ve hurt a whole community, thousands of LGBTQ kids in the state of Florida, a state of 22 million people, you ******* vicious ****.”

Before Thorn made the calls, he used *67 to block his number, court records show.

Court records show Thorn pleaded guilty on May 13.

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